Inside Passage

Inside Passage: Shaped by the staggering force of massive glaciers millions of years ago, Alaska’s Inside Passage boasts wildlife-filled fjords and lush island scenery — habitat for bald eagles, sea lions, porpoises, and whales. Its mountains are carpeted with majestic forests. The coastal mountain ranges and islands make for excellent wildlife viewing and opportunities for outstanding boating, fishing, kayaking, camping and hiking. Keep your binoculars and cameras handy as you explore new wonders around every bend.

Ports: During your cruise through the Inside Passage, you'll visit the charming towns of Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. Rich in native history, these former gold rush towns offer plentiful options for sightseeing and exploration during your port call. Dog sled on a glacier, journey into the Yukon to retrace the paths of pioneers, indulge in local flavors, pan for gold, or peruse the local handicrafts. Whatever you choose, these fascinating ports will not soon be forgotten. See our Ports page for more information.

Gateways: Most Inside Passage cruises sail 7-day roundtrip from Seattle. Easily accessible with great airfare rates, the "Emerald City" of Seattle is a great launching port for your Alaskan adventure. As an alternative, some cruise lines offer 7-day Inside Passage cruises from Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Princess also offers a 10-day roundtrip Inside Passage cruise from San Francisco.

Your Inside Passage cruise will include a full day of glacier viewing while sailing through either Glacier Bay National ParkorTracy Arm Fjord. Glacier Bay: Princess is one of a select few cruise lines permitted to cruise the pristine waters of Glacier Bay. Just west of Juneau, this breathtaking national park and preserve boasts some of the world's most spectacular tidewater glaciers, such as Margerie Glacier, which often drops colossal chunks of ice into the sea. Not surprisingly, Glacier Bay National Park and its epic ice giants are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising Alaska's magnificent park system.

During your scenic cruise, friendly Park Rangers will join the ship to share their knowledge of this amazing place and host a fun Junior Ranger program for kids. They may even be able to help you identify Glacier Bay's abundant wildlife, including humpback whales, sea otters, porpoises, harbor seals, black bears, mountain goats, bald eagles and large colonies of seabirds.

Tracy Arm Fjord: This narrow fjord is located approximately 50 miles southeast of Juneau. Breathtaking Tracy Arm extends over 30 miles long, with nearly a quarter of its area covered in ice. In fact, it encompasses some of Alaska's largest glaciers, including the twin Sawyer glaciers, which often expel enormous chunks of ice into the waters below in a magnificent process known as calving. During the summer when ships visit, icebergs float along the surface of the glistening water in an array of sizes, from just a few inches up to three stories wide.

Protected within the Tongass National Forest, Tracy Arm Fjord is a haven for wildlife. Black and brown bears, deer, wolves, harbor seals, mountain goats and a variety of seabirds have been spotted in the area. As you glide through the pristine fjord, you'll first pass by a lush forest where several beautiful waterfalls cascade down, and then you'll be treated to views of snowcapped mountains and blue-tinged glaciers more spectacular than you could ever imagine. ​

GLACIER BAY INSIDE PASSAGE

RUBY PRINCESS in 2020EMERALD PRINCESS in 2021

DAY

PORT

1

Seattle

2

Cruising the Pacific Ocean

3

Juneau, AK

4

Skagway, AK

5

Cruising Glacier Bay National Park

6

Ketchikan, AK

7

Victoria, B.C., Canada

8

Seattle, WA

*Itinerary may vary based on sail date.

ENDICOTT ARM FJORD INSIDE PASSAGE

EMERALD PRINCESS in 2020​REGAL PRINCESS in 2021

DAY

PORT

1

Seattle, WA

2

Cruising the Inside Passage

3

Ketchikan, AK

4

Endicott Arm (morning); Juneau, AK (afternoon)

5

Skagway, AK

6

Cruising the Pacific Ocean

7

Victoria, B.C., Canada

8

Seattle, WA

*Itinerary may vary based on departure date.

While all the major cruise lines offer Inside Passage Alaskan Cruises, only Princess features "North to Alaska" onboard every sailing. This award winning program brings local entertainment, culture, and cuisine onboard and ashore to immerse you in all things Alaska. Princess has been voted the #1 cruise line in Alaska for the past 9 years. Princess brings more Alaska onboard than any other cruise line. This makes them our first recommendation for Alaskan cruises. Below are some of the things included in this program:

​​Fresh Alaska Seafood!In the spirit of the wild, untamed Great Land, Princess isproviding a variety of fresh Alaska Seafood onboardincluding King Crab, King Salmon and Halibut. Not onlywill there be a dedicated Alaska cuisine themed night inthe main dining rooms, but there will also be a specialAlaska Cuisine menu in the Crown Grill and Bayou Caferestaurants.

Puppies in the PiazzaMeet some of Skagway’s newest sleddogs onboard as they prepare for a lifeof dog mushing! Get to know theirhandlers and snap a picture with theseadorable pups in the piazza!

​

Logger HeadsGuests will be treated to a stimulatingand exciting presentation that revealsthe life and adventures of your host, anactual Alaskan Lumberjack, and willinclude an authentic axe-throwingcompetition with selected guests.

​

Discovery at SeaIn partnership with the DiscoveryNetworks, Alaska cruises will featurecontent from the Discovery Channel andAnimal Planet on the wildlife, terrain,history, and adventures from Alaska.

Meet the Mountain ClimberHear first-hand from mountain climberswho have conquered Denali as they tellthe exhilarating stories of their journeyand present thrilling photos in the newHudson Theater at Mt. McKinleyPrincess Wilderness Lodge.​

Libby Riddles & Steve HitesMeet renowned dog musher LibbyRiddles, the first woman to win thegrueling 1,100-mile Iditarod sled dograce. Or enjoy a “North to Alaska” showby Alaskan storyteller and musicianSteve Hites as he brings the regionsfolklore and history to life.​

Tales from the Deadliest CatchFrom the popular Discovery Channelprogram, “Deadliest Catch”, CaptainDavid Lethin and his shipmates from TheAleutian Ballad relate their true-lifeadventures and experiences in the BeringSea in pursuit of crab.​​

​Tales from the WildNew York Times best-selling author, andrenowned storyteller Nick Jans comesaboard to tell his compelling, emotionalstory of Romeo, the wolf, and the effect hehad on the people of Juneau, as told inhis book, “A Wolf Called Romeo.”

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​Alaska Explorers Youth ProgramIn partnership with the Glacier BayRangers and the Discovery Channel, kidsand teens will explore their adventurousside with activities such as our Jr. RangerProgram, Panning for Gold, and theDeadliest Catch Crab Sorting Game.

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